Page 53 of Between Secrets and Obsession

“That’s him, huh?”

“Jesus, Joel. You scared me.” I lean back and pull the curtains closed. “And yes. But he’s just a friend.”

He rests his back against the wall, crossing his arms. “Mm-hmm.”

Rolling my eyes, I grab his wrist and pull him away. “Let’s get to the side stage before Annie has a heart attack.”

Standing on the right-hand side, we watch the first two groups dance. They do a great job, and once the lights fade, I take a deep breath, and we walk on stage. Our first routine is set to “Eastside,” which goes flawlessly. Joel spins and catches me right on beat, and we end the number smiling and laughing. The audience goes wild, making my heart race harder. We lock hands and bow, the cheers from the crowd reminding me how much I love performing and the adrenaline rush it gives me.

As the lights dim, we get into formation for the next number. This one was choreographed in groups with girls versus boys. The back and forth of the male and female singers cue us when to dance in the center and when to wait on the sidelines.

The beat in the verses is a little slower, but when the chorus speeds up, so do we. Annie incorporated some ballet and hip-hop moves, making the dance unique and a blast to perform. The smile on my face is permanent, and when I lock eyes with Liam, who’s beaming at me, it somehow widens.

The song ends, and we scramble into our final piece. This one reminds me of Liam so much. These past few years have been a roller coaster, but his friendship is everything, even if we’re not where I’d hoped. The little moments we share give me hope that perhaps someday he’ll see me as more than just a friend. Though I’ve learned not to read too much into Liam’s actions, considering he goes from hot to cold in half a second.

I’m front and center and can feel Liam’s gaze burning into me. When I glance at him, it’s confirmed. He’s staring intently with his jaw locked in place as he studies my every move. Though all the seats are taken, everyone fades away as our eyes connect. Somehow, I keep my hips swinging and feet moving without missing a beat.

As the song comes to an end, we huddle closer together until the final note rings out. The crowd jumps to their feet, applauding, but Lennon and Sophie cheer by screaming. It hurts to keep smiling, but I trained hard for this. It was worth every bruise, sore muscle, and exhausted morning after.

The adrenaline has my heart pounding so rapidly I can barely breathe as we exit the stage. Joel nearly breaks my ribs when he spins me around, and I laugh so hard I get the hiccups.

“Oh my God, stop!” He finally sets me down.

“You slayed, Mads!”

“You did too. Hell, we all did.”

We all stay backstage as the seniors perform their final showcase. They picked a great variety of music, which amps me up for ours next year. Once they’re done, everyone cheers.

“Let’s go,” Annie says, clapping her hands. “Final bows. Go, go, go.”

All the dancers merge in the center of the stage. Hand in hand, we bow, then applaud our professors and choreographers. The standing ovation is a pleasant sight, and soon, the auditorium lights brighten, a sign that the show is over. When we’re finally allowed to go out into the audience, I rush down the steps and crash into my sisters.

“You did so well!” Lennon says.

“I loved it!” Sophie tackles me next.

Joel weaves his way over to my side. “Guys, this is my dance partner, Joel. He wanted to meet you.” I introduce him to everyone, and when I get to Liam, he stands with his hands in his pockets like a statue. His lips thin into a firm, unapproving line, which has me holding back a smile. It’s then I realize Joel has his arm wrapped tightly around my waist, and Liam doesn’t like it one bit. Liam gives a curt nod when I introduce them but remains silent.

When no one’s looking, I roll my eyes and scowl at him.

“Stop being a jerk,” I whisper.

It’s been a few days since he returned from Vegas with two black eyes, and though the bruises have faded, I still cringe when I think about what happened to him. I know he’s lying, but getting Liam to tell the truth about this will be nearly impossible.

Joel and I say our goodbyes, then he walks away to find his family. Lennon and Hunter are the first to leave, needing to get the kids from Mrs. Locke. Before Mason and Sophie head out, they ask if I need a ride, but Liam chimes in and offers to wait for me as I change and get my stuff.

“You sure?” I ask. “No plans on a Saturday night?” I taunt.

He shrugs as if he hadn’t thought about it.

“Okay, fine. Then I guess you two are off the hook. Go have your hot date night,” I tell Sophie.

“You mean looking through wedding magazines and bickering over appetizers?”

“Sounds like foreplay to me,” Mason teases, and Sophie nudges him in the gut, causing him to cough.

“That’s what you get.” She laughs.